MBA Member Support

Creative Ways to Support Opens Doors

Opens Doors donors support the Foundation all year long with creative and fun employee activities that raise awareness across the company and build morale internally. Take a look at some of the activities our donors have engaged in so far.

mPact Fall Fundraising Campaigns

As part of mPact’s 2019 Fall Fundraising Initiative, the mPact advisory committee selected five cities to host events that would benefit the MBA Opens Doors Foundation—with the goal reaching a total of $20,000 by the final event of the fall season. The mPact advisory committee raised more than $19,000 in the fall of 2019 and agreed to carry this initiative through to 2020.

The first event of the 2019 campaign was held on September 17th in Chicago, IL at the Highline Bar & Lounge in River North. The networking reception featured raffle prizes, old school jams, and a Skee ball tournament. Pacific Life and Berkadia generously sponsored the reception appetizers, and Highline Bar & Lounge donated a portion of the bar and drink proceeds back to Opens Doors. The Chicago team was able to secure a dollar for dollar match as part of their fundraising efforts. There were more than 70 people in attendance.

The second event was held on September 26th in Washington, DC at Krooth & Altman. The fundraiser featured a local sommelier, Vickie Reh, author of “The Wine Table: Recipes and Pairings from Winemakers’ Kitchens”, who guided the group on how to order wine in a business setting. PGIM, M&T Realty Capital, Walker Dunlop, Berkadia and Newmark Knight Frank sponsored the food and beverage. There were more than 40 people in attendance.

The third event was held on October 29th during MBA’s Annual Convention & Expo in Austin, Texas. Young professionals had the opportunity to network with peers, enjoy great food, and participate in a silent auction. The event was sponsored by Black, Mann & Graham L.L.P., SWBC Mortgage, and the Texas Mortgage Bankers Association.

The fourth event was held November 1st in Greensboro, NC, and featured an extremely competitive kickball tournament. Drinks and snacks were provided by Lincoln Financial Group.

The fifth and final event was held on November 13th in New York City at Dechert LLP overlooking Bryant Park. Similar to the DC event, the event began with a networking reception, followed by a presentation by a sommelier on how to approach choosing wine parings in a business setting. The food and beverage were sponsored by Berkadia, Dechert, and CIBC. There were 40+ people in attendance.

MBA Member Campaigns

National MI – National MI is partnering with the MBA Opens Doors Foundation on their People Profit Customer Community Initiative throughout 2020. National MI is donating a portion of the premium received for every loan it insures to Opens Doors to help families in crisis stay in their homes. The sponsorship began on January 1, 2020, and will run throughout the entire year.

Better.com Lender Challenge – Better.com is committed to doing more for families with critically ill children. Better.com has teamed up with Opens Doors on the launch of the Better.com Lenders Challenge, with the goal of giving $10 for every loan closed, each month to Opens Doors. So far, Better.com has donated more than $86,000 to Opens Doors since the challenge’s inception in August 2019.

Ellie Mae Classic – MBA Opens Doors Foundation was the beneficiary of 2019 Ellie Mae Classic Community Pro-Am. This Pro-Am was sponsored by Housing Wire and, along with a dinner and auction at Wente Vineyards, raised more than $113,000 for Opens Doors, thanks to the generosity of all those who participated.

PennyMac – PennyMac works hard to fulfill the dream of homeownership for thousands of families across the country. In 2019/2020, PennyMac is hosting ‘PennyMac Gives Back’, a campaign that will match employee contributions up to $50,000. So far, the campaign has helped support the initiative with over $6,200 raised from the support of 107 donors.

PRMI – PRMI Giving Network is a grant matching campaign that was launched at PRMI’s annual fall conference. This ongoing campaign matches each employee’s donation to Opens Doors up to $25,000. To date, this campaign has raised more than $20,000 to help needy families stay in their homes.

Eagle Home Mortgage – Eagle Home Mortgage Clearwater raised over $11,900 for Opens Doors during their Eagle Home Mortgage Clearwater Derby in the spring of 2019. This virtual Kentucky Derby style campaign was a friendly office competition in which each department designated a "jockey" and a horse for the day of the race. The department that raised the most money won.

Operation Coastal Clean-Up – CMG Financial partnered with California MBA and joined forces with San Diego CoastKeeper, a nonprofit organization that protects and restores swimmable, fishable and drinkable waters in San Diego County, to launch Operation Coastal Clean-Up, benefitting Opens Doors. A group of volunteers spent several hours at the beach in San Diego, cleaning up in teams and competed for prizes. This event was a huge success raising over $26,700 for families in need.

Holiday Activities

For more information and ideas on how Pulte Mortgage engages their employees and supports Opens Doors, click here.

Events

Ellie Mae and the Ellie Mae Classic. In 2018, Opens Doors was selected as the beneficiary of the Ellie Mae Classic Community Pro-Am.

Just for fun

ERNST gave a bag of money to Opens Doors President Deborah Dubois at the MBA Annual Convention. The funds came from their expo money wind tunnel - what wasn't grabbed by the winner went to Opens Doors!

"Thank you so much! It means the world to me that you have been able to help me pay one month's mortgage while we are going through this difficult time in our lives. God most certainly will bestow his blessings to all of you! Love, hugs and many blessings sent you're guys' way!"

"Thank you so much for taking care of our mortgage payment for the month of July. We can't express enough how truly grateful we are for this grant opportunity during this difficult time. After 37 days in the hospital, Brynn is finally home and is doing well. Again, thank you for this kind gesture. Organizations such as MBA Opens Doors are such a blessing for families such as ours."